From Jamaica with Love: An Unscripted Journey to the Heartbeat of the Caribbean

What a week. Nine resorts. Four days. No script. I’ve traveled to the Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica more times than I could ever count, in my role as Senior Vice President of Customer Engagement, Insight, and Loyalty. Usually, I’m shooting short videos for social media. But I’d never done anything like this. I wanted to experience the food, the pools, even the Caribbean Sea from the footprints of a guest at Sandals and Beaches. Along the way, I would engage in dozens of organic conversations with drivers, concierges, hostesses, housekeepers, concierges, landscapers, couples and even a general manager gone viral on TikTok. There would be no storyboard. I simply wanted, once and for all, to demystify a question: Why do we always leave Jamaica feeling different than when we first arrive? The island and the resorts become uniquely personal. I don’t get that feeling anywhere else. Why does it happen here, in Jamaica?

The first conversation came up before I even left New York. In the terminal at JFK Airport, I ran into a few people headed to Sandals.

“Which one are you going to?” I asked one couple.

“Sandals Montego Bay.”

“How about you?” I asked another couple.

“Sandals Ochi.”

“Where are you going?” one of the couples asked me.

“Montego Bay. Ochi. Dunn’s River. Royal Caribbean. Royal Plantation. South Coast. Negril. Beaches Negril. And Beaches Ocho Rios.”

They weren’t sure how to interpret what they just heard as we boarded the plane for Jamaica.

It all started at my first stop: Sandals South Coast

The scene on this Sandals property tucked between the sea and a nature preserve looked the same as always. The sun shining. People smiling. You can close your eyes at Sandals South Coast and sense the relaxed energy of a tropical vacation escape. There had been a lot of talk in the media about possible storm damage after Hurricane Beryl. Everywhere I looked, I thought, “Am I in the right place?”

Now, it was not lost on me that some areas around the island were more impacted than others, but I felt connected to its recovery by way of the Sandals Foundation’s Relief Mission, which was set up to support these communities. Sandals Resorts International fully funds the administration of the Sandals Foundation, so just by being a guest of Sandals, you are a part of the wider cause; and if compelled to donate, 100% of donations will go directly towards the Relief Mission.

I quickly experienced, first-hand, what I already knew: my visit to Jamaica, and that of fellow travelers, makes a significant difference in these efforts, sending a message that says, We are here for you. And for the Team Members who welcomed guests, myself included, there was only one prevailing mood all around the island: Joy. Pure joy.

I like to swim in the ocean early in the morning

Wading into the warm sea is a comforting way for me to start any day in the Caribbean. That feeling dominates the entire day. Yes, the beautiful weather and the colors of the sky and ocean are calming influences. But I’ve been to gorgeous destinations all around the Caribbean and there’s something that feels a little extra special here.

I’m not shy, so I asked other guests, “what is it about Jamaica?” The conversations all across the island become like a chorus: “it’s the quintessential Caribbean hospitality.” The people sounded as amazed with Jamaicans and who they are at their core as they are with an Ocho Rios waterfall or a Negril sunset.

It blows my mind: How are team members so happy all the time?

On this trip, I looked for cracks in the overall attitude behind the scenes. There are none. The level of enthusiasm and joy is not switched on for guests and then switched off. It’s part of the DNA in Jamaica, which is synonymous with hospitality. Each resort truly is “home.” Every person really is “family.” It’s true for the staff and the guests. So, the Sandals and Beaches spirit becomes a catalyst for the staff to do what they love to do: deliver an amazing experience for guests, and this week I was blessed to be among them.

As a guest, it’s easy to forget this is work for team members

For us, it would be a job. For them, it’s a way of life. Making people happy truly makes them happiest. I’ve never experienced anything like it anywhere else. At Sandals Montego Bay, I saw a guest approach the general manager and ask him to take a picture of her with a team member. It wasn’t the only time or place where I saw resort team members included in the making of precious vacation memories.

We have this “north star” called Sandals 2.0

It’s a guiding principle that permeates the entire company and all the resorts. We’re always thinking, “How can we improve the guest experience?” As I traveled around Jamaica, committed to being in the moment, I noticed how the natural identity of each region is reflected in resort innovations. Sandals Dunn’s River has the flowing water of the nearby Dunn’s River Falls, an unparalleled collection of Jamaica’s quintessential spirit at the Dunn’s Rum Club and Coyaba Sky Villas with private rooftops, telescopes, and a stargazing concierge to look up to the unmatched Caribbean night sky. But there’s no such thing as innovating for the sake of innovating. Each nuance has a greater purpose and as I raised a toast to Jamaica alongside guests sipping Rum Old Fashioneds, it became extra clear that these small details foster a lot of island love.

It's always about the guests

At Beaches Negril, I sat down at a picnic table to take notes while drying off after a swim. A few parents sat near me with casual bites from the new food trucks. What really struck me is how the outdoor eating area is designed next to the waterpark so those parents could eat and not lose sight of their kids. That’s the kind of thought that goes into new concepts: Make every moment unique, enjoyable, and relaxing.

Family takes care of family, right?

I met a multi-generational family from Pittsburgh. They chose to celebrate a graduation at Beaches because of the friendly staff and the worry-free environment. Those aren’t my words; that’s what they told me. So did others. A couple retying the knot in Negril, honeymooners at Ochi, and a couple visiting Jamaica for the 24th time and staying at Sandals Dunn’s River for the first time. Jamaica felt like home — except a lot prettier and a lot more fun.

If I had to reveal the secret to the sauce?

It’s relationships. And I think that’s what’s happened over the years: Sandals and Beaches guests have developed a most profound relationship with Jamaica. It’s an unbreakable bond with the island and its people and with Sandals as their home away from home.

I believe this was Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s intent from day one

As a Jamaican, Gordon “Butch” Stewart lived the island spirit before he opened the first Sandals in Montego Bay. You take care of people — your family, your neighbors, your staff, and your guests. Give them a comfortable place to be themselves. If you do that and consistently raise the bar, you’ll provide the best vacation experience anyone can possibly deliver. It’s never been as clear to me as it is now.

These four days were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced

With nothing scripted or precisely scheduled, I began to grow a deeper connection to the guests, team members, resorts and island. Honestly. I go back to Butch Stewart opening Sandals during Jamaica’s most profound cultural movement: One Love. I could make the case that his motivation is as obvious today as it was back then — maybe more obvious. It’s the embodiment of Sandals.

None of these observations are polished for a story

They’re all true. This is what I experienced, including this final scene. As I sat on the plane rising up from Montego Bay, I looked out the window at the crystal blue sea and had my own wonderfully overwhelming revelation: I’d fallen in love with Jamaica all over again, and there was no longer any mystery about why.

Experience Everything Irie with the 'Experience Jamaica' Sale at Sandals and Beaches Resorts

Immerse yourself in the heartbeat of the Caribbean where reggae beats meet the warm island breeze with Sandals' and Beaches' brand new Experience Jamaica sale.

Available to book through October 6th and valid for travel through December 26, 2026, the Experience Jamaica sale offers a $350 air credit on stays of five to six nights, and a $500 air credit for stays of seven nights or longer at nine all-inclusive Jamaican properties. Further enticing travelers to truly experience the island’s enduring appeal, guests staying at least seven nights will also enjoy a $275 Island Routes tour credit valid on an exciting array of Jamaica-centric excursions.

Participating Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica include: Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, and Sandals Royal Caribbean, Beaches Negril and Beaches Ocho Rios.

To book your next vacation, visit www.sandals.com/sale and www.beaches.com/sale.

Looking for Sandals Resorts travel agents? We offer the best prices and packages, including airfare to and from destination, airport transfers, excursions and activities, travel insurance and so much more.